Disclaimer: I don't own anything. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling. One of Draco's lines toward the end is from Chicago as well.
"So, what's this?" Ginny said swirling the liquid in Draco's heavy mug. They had talked for some time about this and that, nothing of importance or interest except to them. They actually had quite a lot in common once you got past their exteriors.
"Butterbeer with cherry syrup," he said as she went to take a sip of it. Her eyes widened at the taste of it as she set the mug back down on the table. "Oh," he said nonchalantly, "did I forget to mention that there's also a large amount of fire whiskey in it as well." He smirked as he showed her a small, but ornate silver flask.
"What? Trying to get me drunk enough so I'll agree to more than just the Yule Ball?" she said cockily.
"Of course," he pretended, "why else then to get your lovely trim body in bed with me?" She gaped and smacked him upside the head.
"Draco Malfoy!" she yelled at a volume that was loud, shrill, but inaudible to those around them. "What if my brother was in here?" she hissed at him, and sure enough, in walked Ron, Hermione, and, of course, Harry.
"Come on," he whispered to her even though her eyes were still on the door where they were removing their scarfs, "I know a back way out." He pulled her out of the booth discreetly and led her towards the restrooms.
"Where are we going Draco? You know, I'm not going to make out with you in the back of the Three..."
"Hush up, will you?" he said, "I was taught manners, you know." He opened a door she hadn't noticed before and held it open for her. She walked through to find herself in the back alley of the pub where it had started to snow. She blushed a deep shade of crimson when she realized Draco had been true to his word.
"I thought Malfoys were all about getting what they want, not manners," she said brazenly.
"Not me," Draco replied aprubtly not even thinking about how almost all of his former actions disputed that.
"Well I guess you're not a Malfoy then," she taunted as he snorted at the comment.
"So," she said looking up at him, "where to now?"
"Wherever you want," he shrugged. He noticed her shiver and pull her threadbare cloak tighter around her. The air had chilled a bit since they went into the Three Broomsticks, so he gracefully removed his own cloak and wrapped it around her delicate shoulders.
She looked up at him. "Thanks," she said awkwardly, fingering the perfect badge on it's collar.
"Not at all," he said like it was nothing, though she knew he must be freezing, "where to? Honeydukes?" She bit her lip, knowning she shouldn't be going there, but nodded with a grin despite herslef.
The warm air and dense crowds of the sweet shop was a distant change from the cold empty streets outside. Amongst the hustle and bustle of sweet-toothed students, no one noticed the odd couple make their way to the chocolates.
While Ginny was admiring the large collection of chocolates, Draco bought a bouquet of chocolate roses that looked and smelled like actual roses petals until you ate them. He quickly returned to her and presented them to her with a dramatic bow. "For you," he said elegantly.
She laughed and took them from him with a 'thank-you, kindly sir,' and got a grin in return. "Shall we leave then?" she mocked.
"As my lady wishes," he held out his arm, and she slipped hers through before they walked to the door and out back into the frosty streets of Hogsmeade. "Now where to? Anything else you desire?" he said with a sparkling smile that said 'Such as me.'
"How about back to Hogwarts where the big bad brother won't catch us," she teased with raised eyebrows.
"Oooh, we musn't let that happen," he mocked in return, and she lightly smacked him on the arm.
They discussed different things, mostly teasing, on the way back. About half-way there, Ginny couldn't restrain herself from commenting. "You have got to be freezing."
"Maybe just a little," he conceded, "but I'd rather you have it." Ginny couldn't help but smile at how much of a gentleman he was. She had to admit that he was twice the gentleman that Harry was. She hastily kissed him on the cheek hoping no one saw even though she knew there wasn't anyone.
"That's all I get," he inquired with a raised eyebrow, and before she knew it, his lips were on hers. This was no chaste kiss, but a full-blown and passionate one, the kind she'd get killed by Ron for even getting, let alone from Draco Malfoy. Draco was no beginner either, and, well, neither was she.
When they finally pulled away, Ginny was in a torrent of emotions. "Was..Was that real, or just a trick?" she asked showing the emotion in her eyes.
"What do you think?" he said before he kissed her again with even more force than the last time.
When they withdrew from each other the second time, they stayed still embraced, looking into each other's eyes as sappy as it may sound. It was more like a moment of knowing, of understanding that neither was new to it all and that neither was willing to change for the other, but did so anyway.
The rest of the way back they didn't speak in a comforting silence, but walked hand in hand until they reached the main staircase in an unusually empty main hall.
"When will I see you again?" she asked him honestly.
He thought a bit before saying, "Friday, out by the lake, the tree across from Hagrid's hut, about seven." She raised her eyebrows at this "Unless you'd rather the Astronomy Tower," which got him a laugh.
"It's a date," she said jokingly shaking his hand. "Until then," she said kissing him before going half way up the stairs and the turning. "Well, unless of course I get Potions detention again."
He snickered before going down the stairs to the dank dungeon. "Parseltongue," he said before stepping into Pansy's awaiting ambush.
"So," she said curtly, "have you got her yet?"
He ran a nervous hand through his hair. "Yes and no."
"What do you mean, yes and no?" she said with barely repressed anger, "You either have her or you don't. Unless..." she was panting with rage by now, "You didn't, you can't have, but you did, didn't you."
"Pansy, no need to alert the entire common room," he said in a low, hateful tone.
"God damn it, Draco!" she screamed kicking the coffee table and knocking it over.
"Stick with people you're better acquainted with, Pansy," he said the name with outright disgust.
"You're not supposed to fall in love with the bitch!"
"Well, what was I supposed to do? Not fall in love with her!" he started screaming as well.
"Yes! That's what all the rest of us would do!" Tears of pure hatred were streaming down her face. "It would serve you right if the entire common room was here! You are so lucky I got them all out of here! Everyone here reveres you like some sort of god, you know that! Just because you look like one doesn't mean you are one, Draco! You're a Malfoy! A Malfoy! Malfoys don't love."
"Maybe I'm not a Malfoy," he said quietly.
"Maybe you're not," she said before running up the girls' staircase and slamming the sixth years' door so hard it bounced back, and she had to slam it again.
He sunk into a plush leather armchair and sighed, running his hand through his hair again, a nervous habit of his. He grabbed a quill that had fallen from the overturned coffee table and a scrap piece of parchment and scribbled a quick note before going upstairs to his room, the tallest in Slytherin. His eagle owl was waiting in his rare and hard to get window and was quickly off with the letter.
He sunk into his mattress with yet another sigh. How had this happened? When had he turned his back and been struck by Cupid's arrow? Was this a punishment? If not, was this a reward? And for what? So many questions, so few answers. Although there was one that kept lingering in his mind.
"Do I love her?" he wondered to himself staring up at the ceilng playing with one of her copper strands of hair that had been left on his shirt; she still had his cloak. "Yes," he said out loud, not knowing whether to curse himself or smile. He finally decided and smiled.
"Please, no!" was the first thing she heard as she walked into the common room. Lavender and Parvati turned their attention to Ginny immediately, and, not missing the opportunity, the scant first year made himself absent.
"Ginny," Parvati smirked.
"Ginny," Lavender gasped, "why are you wearing Malfoy's cloak?!"
"Oh," Parvati said cockily stepping towards her while pulling out her compact, "that wasn't what I was noticing." Ginny's eyes widened right before she blushed seeing her reflection, particularly her neck. "I can tell you enjoyed yourself, young lady. Such a shame, Fred and George popped by an hour ago."
"Well, as you can tell," she looked pointedly at Parvati, "I've had a busy day." Her friends couldn't help but snicker. "I'll be going upstairs for a respite before dinner."
"Sweet dreams," Lavender called out, "of Malfoy" Parvati joined in. Ginny playfully slammed the door on them right after sticking her tongue out.
She was very surprised to see a silver teaset for one on her dresser with a note and awaiting owl.
She set the bouquet down next to the owl before picking up the note in curvy, delicate handwriting by the teaset.
It's charmed to always be fully, especially for you.
She opened up the lid of the pot to see steaming hot chocolate with a ring of caramel and couldn't help but smile.
She turned next to the owl, an elegant eagle owl that screamed with wealth. It stuck it's leg out expectantly and was quick to fly away after its duty had been done.
Maybe you were right. Maybe I'm not a Malfoy. Meet me tonight. You know where and when. Then like an after thought. With love